Session Start: Wed Jul 28 21:15:19 2010 [The Hunt: Mini] [Wed. July 28, 2010; late evening] [A few hours later, the common room's been cleaned, Tiny's poor corpse taken to be examined by grown-ups who know more about these things. There's been a lot of questions for the one known Snowflake, but they've mercifully died down by now. But, just when it seems like he might have some time to himself, another knock comes at John's door. A knock; not a hail over the Net or a ring on the bell.] * John doesn't pay it attention at first. It's probably just a bump or something... until his EI beeps at him, too. He's momentarily at the door, a charming smile with a hint of restrained weariness. * Murdon is there, looking a bit...well, not nervous, but chagrinned. "...this is a bad time. I'm sorry. I'll come back later." No, no. Now's perfect. Come in. * John's room is a bit spartan, and all elegantly expensive. A couple of holo- posters of The Black Snowflakes are on one wall, and there's two holos of his parents - each in their own holo, not together. The carpet is white, and there's start of some work to add some old fashioned paint to add a whole sky/wind motif to the upper walls and ceiling. * Murdon does so, smiling gratefully. That he does so without further protest probably means something. "Thanks. Long day, huh? ...nice job on your room." The younger boy looks about at the decorations. * The door closes automatically as Murdon clears it. "No sense in putting this off. Has Spoon had a talk with you yet?" Not yet, no. *shakes his head* * Murdon is wearing different clothes than he was before the incident. Are you holding up alright? The moment's past. How's it all sinking in? It isn't, yet, really. Sinking in, I mean. * John rustles up some room-temperature pizza, and a glass of high-caffeine soda. Despite how domestic the food is, the plates are silver-lined in delicate patterns, and the cup is made of some pricey looking crystal. There's servings for two. That's... wow. From your family? *gestures to the flatware* Yeah, the pizza here isn't - oh, no, that's from the house. * Murdon isn't intentionally avoiding the topic. Not consciously, anyway. "The house?" * John laughs a little. "My dad's place." Oh. Well, the sinking in is easier if you take it slow. Dad has some nice china, too. I think it's really old. From earth. We only use it on special occasions, though. --you know, I really didn't even realize anything had happened. * John shrugs. "Or so I've heard." Not until you and the two Ladies acted like I was acting weird. Slow, huh? That's different. Things are a lot faster in Malletfall than I was used to back home. But somehow, less genuinely busy. My dad sometimes said the art of politics was talking full speeches without ever saying a real word. This school is going to have a lot of that, I think. * Murdon laughs. "That doesn't bode well. I have some minor political ambitions, myself, and I'm not good at dissembling." How long did you stay in Malletfall before moving into the dorms here? Last year of middle school. Then a couple of days at the end of summer break. So I'm a bit more used to it than I might be, but...it's still different. You from Malletfall? That's where the winter house is. --sorry. I mean, I heard OF you, even if I was a bit slow on the uptake, but I didn't really look into it. ...winter house? How many houses do you HAVE? My dad has two. * Murdon opens his mouth to ask something, but thinks better of it. "Wow. So, um, how'd it happen to you? I know it was at a concert and everyone saw, but..." * John laughs. "Most of this is public information. I know you're generally up to other things, but it's still surprising that you don't know." Well... I really like my music. Yeah, it's kind of embarrassing. I'd probably have paid more attention, but Dad had me working double-time this summer, because it'd gotten behind while I was at school. And he's not admitting it, but he's getting older. Slowing down a bit. * John has a friendly enough tone about it, but there's a firmness there. ...you must. *chuckles* Must've been some concert. Did you realize it'd happened? I mean, before people around you did? Not really. I realized _something_ happened. It wasn't until everybody else started freaking out that I figured out what they were freaking out about. You were almost in that same boat. 'Almost?' I feel kinda dumb. I mean, *tentacles?* How didn't I notice? Because it's still you. I mean, it's not like you turned into a girl or anything. You're still yourself. It's... well. I guess. * Murdon looks down at his legs, and shakes one foot. "Lot less wiggly like this, though. Shorter and better-dressed, too." Oh, yeah! I've been meaning to ask. Did you have some connection to that peepmouse? That was a pretty weird coincidence. I don't think so? I just...something *weird* was coming from Sad's room. Then from Rory's. Then ... well, you saw everything else. I ran in to see what happened, over-shot, and...well, like I said, I hadn't realized what I was doing. It felt normal. Even having that trident. It was...like a really short pool skimmer. Or a cue stick. Sad's room? Sadao. Dammit. I refuse to use that awful nickname. I wouldn't, but he said to. And I know what it's like when people call you something you don't want to be called. I think he said something close to 'but everybody else calls me...' Anyways, it was coming from his room? Well, near it. Then it was definitely in Rory's, right before Rory ran out. Maybe I should ask him about it. He's a nice guy; I don't want to insult him. Welcome to the club, anyway. *he holds out a hand* * Murdon only misses half a beat blinking before he takes the hand and shakes. His grip is not weak, but not as firm as a practiced handshake. * John gives a nice, firm handshake before releasing. "Any thoughts on if you're going to go public?" I... do not think so. It'd be a bit awkward, since I don't want to be treated any different. ...also, if Lady Spoon's initial reaction is any indication, I might not be popular. * John makes a face. "Good luck. You might be a hit, though." With the little kids, or the Ningyo? Not sure. I'm not anybody's pet, though! Certainly no Ningyo or Magical Girl's. *sticks out his tongue, making him look younger than he is* Also, I'm going to need to start buying more clothes. Mine were soaked, and torn, when I turned back. That's not *supposed* to be a problem, is it? I think it gets better. Or the transformation gets better. Mom talked about it a little bit. Spoon probably knows more. Or Lady Turbulence. * John lets out a breath, and grins. "This is cool, though. I won't feel so out- matriarched with the other two now." * Murdon nods. "Good. Bad enough that the only thing that changes *with* me is the tessen Dad gave me." He pulls out the black fan. "Well, maybe it didn't, and the trident just appeared," he muses, turning it over in his hands. "...out- matriarched?" Other two? ...there are only two other Snowflakes? The other two Snowflakes? Yeah, that's all so far. You make number four. ...wow. I really don't... I hadn't even thought of that. How dumb am I? Yeah, that's all there are of us. I wouldn't put it past the Hierarchy to split us up and not tell each other, though. *sighs, and sits down* Makes me wanting Snowflake ruled by *all* her people kind of hypocritical now, doesn't it. --split us up? Why? Well, sometimes I think the Hierarchy doesn't have our planets best interests in heart. * John shrugs. "Maybe we'll get a say in what that is now, though." * Murdon shakes his head. "No, that's not the way to do it. It's not...right." I wouldn't've been happy just begging the Ladies to listen to me before; I shouldn't be content now that I got my share. * John raises an eyebrow. "What'd'ya mean?" Well, Dad's practically autonomous out where we live, but he's also ex- mil. Used to do space exploration, before he settled here. And there're some laws that...well, they're dumb, and shouldn't apply everywhere. We took care of ourselves; everyone here does. Why do we have to wait for Ladies to come protect us and tell us what to do? * Murdon leans forward, animated. "Don't get me wrong! Ladies are great to have around!" But...we shouldn't be dependent on them, which means we can't be beholden to them. To us, now, I guess. * John leans forward, grinning. "You want to know a secret?" * Murdon glances at his wrist. "...As long as you don't mind Hantsuki knowing it, too. Hantsuki's good at keeping secrets, though," he says with a conspiratorial grin. That elegant young woman's hologram appears briefly on his wrist-band, and zips her lips and throws away the imaginary key before vanishing. * John glances at the EI, then nods. "That's why I call us Snowflakes. Not MGs." Oh? I think that maybe we represent the planet. Or are meant to be. I don't think we're just an extension of the Hierarchy. And if more of us keep appearing, that we're going to be taking their spot before too long. * John makes a face. "I just hope that everyone involved handles it well." That's their plan, too, I think. Me, I don't think kids're what we need as leaders, just because they've got magic. * Murdon nods in agreement. "Me, too." What Football said before the silverdart showed up is bothering me, though. As far as being leaders. Why? It actually sounded pretty good to me. It sounded like that she wants us, or is going to force us, to take that spot sooner than later. I think I've got a little more practice than most, but still... She's dying. We're not going to sit quietly while a dynasty sets up. She wants locals to become the next dynasty, hoping it'll be more acceptable. I feel bad for her, really. She...really seems to mean well. Sincerely. And nobody deserves to be as sick as she is. Especially not while still working so hard. Maybe you're right. I hope you're right, honestly. The Hierarchy has a pretty bad track record here, though. I hope so. *grins* I like to think I read people well. I may be wrong, but I like to think it. You leave the actual reading to Hantsuki? *he chuckles* *manifesting again* And the writing, and the 'rithmatic, if I let him. He's lazy. Hey! Be glad I'm not reminding you it's getting close to curfew. *glances at her holographic bare wrist* Past, actually. But I think they'll bend the rules for their newest special little snowflake. Heh. I'm the same way with technology. I just leave it all to Herc. * John 's EI doesn't pipe in some cute remark. All in all, his EI seems fairly quiet. * John glances outside the ZOMG HUGE WINDOWS. "I'm sure you're going to get a bigger speech than I gave you tomorrow from one of the Ladies." Yeah. We've got a generator at home. Several, actually. But they're mostly for lights. I didn't even know HOW to use the 'net 'til I was 10. ...really? You gave a speech? Not compared to what you're going to get! Yay. You got one already, I guess? ...should I ask who the other two are, or just wait and see? * John nods. "Yeah, and the other two." And you're going to find out about the other two. We all get extra classes together on how to be more magical. I won't tell you if you like surprises. I used to. Then I went to Middle School. Spill. * John glances around. "Jamie, and Tasiya." Jamie was the glow lady. Tasiya was the one who got burned. ...really? *whistles* The girls we met on the train? Small world. * Murdon laughs. "Well, I guess this *is* a small world, here in T3M." So what was that about us being split up without telling somebody? I wouldn't be surprised. No, I don't know what you mean. If there's suddenly three or four or five we find out about somewhere else. Oh, so there might be more that even the four of us won't know about? Maybe. Maybe not. I wouldn't be surprised if they did do that, though. In which case I'd feel weird about us just being four. You look like your starting to get a handle on being in the club. Heh. There's not any hazing or anything I have to go through, is there? *joking...mostly* Just get used to being around a lot of girls. * Murdon looks like he's not sure what to make of that. That reminds me! I found this thing that they probably won't be a fan of. It's a holoboxing game for your EI. ...a what? * Murdon shakes his wrist, and the girl appears standing on the circular lump of black plastic. "Boxing? Why?" she asks, dubiously. * John grabs his EI, and holds it out. The avatar for his EI pops up for probably the first time ever - a white, heavily muscled male with black hair, in a loincloth. Aside from the caveman-esque outfit, it's also got a giant $ bling necklace. "Because it's fun! And totally humane." *He grins* *eyes the other EI up and down* You know, EIs don't have hormones. But still, he's hot. * Murdon blushes in embarrassment, and she chuckles. "And that's why I said it," she said, pointing at Murdon, who swats at her. Ineffectually. * Murdon 's EI sits in a high-backed leather chair and leans forward, lacing her fingers under her chin and crossing her legs in a manner that bares the calves beneath her elegant dress. "So, tell me more about this EI boxing." [As the boys discuss this new EI virtual game, the stress of the evening is finally forgotten...for a time.] [End mini]